MsDONALD v. WILLIAMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 June 1926, Page 8

MsDONALD v. WILLIAMS

A SPLENDID CONTEST. McDonald the winner. The Lvccum Theatre was comfortably filled on Saturday evening when a return contest between Merv Williams, Australia (contender for tho middlewe.ght championship of Australia), and Lacliie McDonald, Timaru (middleweight champion of New Zealand), was staged by the Timaru Boxing Association. Oil a previous occasion at Dunedin, the Australian secured a points decision over McDonald, and the return meeting was naturally followed with great interest. The bout proved to be one of the best seen in Timaru for saveral years. Very evenly matched, both, men fought vigorously right -up to the closing round, when a very willing mill cvenuiatod.

In Uie amateur preliminaries, three good bouts were provided, patrons having no cause for complaint in tho sport provided.. Tho referee in the professional bout was Mr Lyall Dewar, while Mr T. Segar, with Messrs E. Earwaker and J. King as judges, officiated in the amateur contests. The timekeepers were Messrs L. baton and W. A. Scott. In changing over from the Theatre, the Association was naturally without many ot the facilities obtainable in tho larger budding, nevertheless the officials responsible, adapted arrangements to the circumstances in a very creditable manner, the proceedings being carried out without a hitch. The South Canterbury Battalion Band was in attendance, and contributed a very enjoyable programme of music.

AMATEUR. CONTES'TS. FLYWEIGHT. E. Wade (Timaru) 8.6, beat H. G. Cullimoro (Timaru) 7.4. This proved a particularly willing encounter, in which a very narrow margin existed at tho end. Both boys were loudly applauded for the display provided. _ LIGHTWEIGHT. A. McKay (Timaru) 9.9, beat 11. Hopkinson (Temiika) 10.0. McKay led throughout the opening round, ana-in the second session, freely dealt out punishment with liis left. In the third round Hopkinson made a rally, but McKay was • too speedy, and the verdict for McKay was popularly received. W. Weston (Timaru) 5.7, beat I. Hill (Timaru) 9.0. Weston led throughout, and despite some quick work by Hill, he wa6 awarded a popular decision. THE BIG BOUT. .

Both principals were loudly applauded on making their appearance. McDonald, whose address was given as Timaru, being in receipt of a special ovation. Tho announcer, Mr A. N. Oakey, stated that the coiitest which would be of 15 three-minute rounds, was for a purse of £l5O, and would be fought at catchweiglits. Both men stripped well, .but the Australian appealed to be in the better condition. Williams made the first lead but McDonald ducked, later connecting with the right to the jaw. The Australian’s left made coijiot with McDonald’s face, the latter retaliating with-a wicked right swing to the jaw. Both were frequently ordered to break. McDonald’s round. The second round opened freely, Williams having slightly the better of tho opening stages with successive lefts to the lace. McDonald got homo to the jaw with two lefts. Williams successfully led with liis left, but aftonvaids missed on several occasions. McDonald’s round by a fair margin. In the third ir.uiKl lit Aln-r exchanged to any decided efleet until McDonald connected with a left jab, and a right swing, also causing Williams to miss. In a brisk exchange on the ropes Williams scored twice in succession with his right. McDonald jerked William,’ iiead with a heavy right. An even round.

Williams opened the next episode with a straiglit left, but McDonald, who was carrying more sting in liis giove, retaliated with a solid right to his opponent’s jaw. Minins scored slightiy in a period of infighting. Williams connected with a solid right swing in the concluding stages of the round. An even round.

Tho opening of the fifth round saw Williams land with his right. McDonald, who was at times evading cleverly, also landed jvith a heavy right, jerking Williams’ head. Williams retaliated vigorously, taking the light to McDonald, and connecting with two successive rights. McDonald showed a tendency to turn back, and at times hit wildly. Williams' round. The sixth round opened more tamely. Williams then forced the fight and was working confidently. McDonald, at times, gave suggestions of tiring, and also swung wildly. Both were frequently ordered to break. The Australian appeared to hold a slight advantage. Williams, probably realising that ho was behind on points, waded in and landed with his right, bnt McDonald scored with a light left, landing lator with a straight left to Williams’ mouth. During the round Williams mostly took the initiative, and had tlie better of proceedings.

Both scored with lefts in the opening stages of tho eighth round. .Williams connected twice in .succession with his left, repeating the performance a moment later. Williams slipped and both, fell just as the gong sounded. Williams’ round. Williams led with the left at the commencement of the ninth round, but McDonald countered well and repeatedly slipped his left into his opponent’s body. The iS T cw Zealander also caused Williams to miss badly on several occasions. McDonald’s round.

Both exchanged freely at tho commencement of the tenth, Williams gaining the advantage with three successive lefts. Williams also connected with left lead right to the face. McDonald, who fought determinedly to the concluding stages, connected with a particularly heavy right to his opponent’s jaw. McDonald’s round. The eleventh round opened briskly. Williams scored with a clean left, but massed with several leads. McDonald rushed his> man to the ropes and both clinched. Williams landed with a good left, but a. solid uppercut was neatly evaded. McDonald appeared to have a slight advantage. In the twelfth Williams turned two lefts with his glove, and scored with rights and lefts tg the face. Williams continued to score mainly with the left. Both mixed froelv, tho advantage lying largely with Will iams. who fought strongly throughout the round. Tho ■ devil’s round opened quietly, McDonald eventually scoring with the right. AVilliams retaliated with a right swing, but McDonald scored with three good rights. Williams connected with his left at the conclusion of the round. McDonald’s advantage. Both men were ordered to break frequently at the commencement of the fourteenth round. McDonald, breaking away, connected with his loft. Williams landed with his right and left, but McDonald evened up matters with two right swings to tho body in close fighting. Williams connected with a right, uppercut, which lacked sting. An indecisive round. At this stage the scoring was so close that it seemed that tho decision hung on the filial session. Both men were quickly out of their corners as the final round was sounded, and both mixed freely. McDonald evaded cleverly and forced Williams to the ropes. William s ; scored with his left, but McDonald retaliated with two lefts in .succession. Williams took the fight in, but McDonald drove him olf with a heavy right. The Australian’s left, went home to the face. A period of particularly heavy fighting in which blows were froelv exchanged, ensued, Williams receiving a heavy right uppercut just before the gong sounded, with McDonald apparently the. stronger of the pair. Tho referee's award went to McDonald.